The Dallas Cowboys' front office did this to them. Over a year later, and the debate about whether or not they won the trade that sent superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers rages on. Jerry Jones implored the fanbase that he was in the right, after a contract dispute led to Parsons holding out during 2025 training camp and the exhibition season, leading to him being dealt prior to the start of the regular season.
Jones claimed that trading Parsons would lead to the Cowboys' run defense improving and the salary cap savings would lead to a number of improvements elsewhere on the roster. The players acquired (Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Malachi Lawrence) and the cap space allocation (Jake Ferguson, DaRon Bland) have not
worked out for the Cowboys in 2026.
As for Parsons, he was placed on the PUP list to start the season after missing the end of last year with an ACL tear. He was projected to potentially return this week, as fans circled the Week 6 matchup when the schedules were announced in May. Will he suit up on Sunday Night Football?
He will not. Parsons' practice window has not been started by the Packers, meaning he is still at least a couple weeks away from returning. Parsons himself claims that if the Super Bowl was this week he'd play, but he's being cautious to ensure that the common compensation injuries that can result from returning too soon don't impact him when he does return to the field.
Parsons remains on the Active/PUP list for Week 6.
Initially, Green Bay was seen as being on the better end of the swap, and the two teams met and had a 40-40 tie that left a stalemate on the official ledger. The Packers were seen as the victors, with a 9-3-1 record while Dallas' defense struggled mightily, but a late season Parsons ACL tear started to shift the narrative.
Dallas used the draft picks acquired to trade for DT Williams and draft Lawrence in the first round, and spent the extra space to extend Bland and Ferguson. When Williams was extended as the centerpiece of the new-look defense, people started claiming the Cowboys ended up on the better end of the deal. Five weeks into the season the run defense is as bad as ever and most fans want Bland and Ferguson benched.
The Packers lot every game down the stretch after Parsons industry and are trying to keep their heads above water entering Week 6 this year. It's safe to say that no one has won the trade thus far.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Is Micah Parsons playing today vs Cowboys? Packers edge injury update
